Cuba has just lost Dr. Jorge González Pérez, an example of a scientist dedicated to research, an eminent medical examiner of recognized national and international prestige, a professor to several generations of doctors, a man of proven unconditional loyalty to Fidel, the Revolution and his Homeland.
Born on April 23, 1952, in Jovellanos, Matanzas, “Popi”, as he was affectionately called in his hometown since he was a child, graduated as a doctor from the University of Havana in 1975.
Upon finishing his degree in Medicine, he requested and obtained directly the specialization in Legal Medicine. Incorporated into the group of workers of the Institute of Legal Medicine, belonging to the Ministry of Public Health, he held different responsibilities there, including head of the Forensic Toxicology Department, teaching assistant director and, later, general director of the institution for 13 years.
In 1995 he received the mission to travel to Bolivia, as a representative of the relatives of Che Guevara and the other Cuban combatants who fell in that Andean country, in 1967, to direct the search for the remains of the guerrillas, a task that he assumed with absolute dedication. , passion, perseverance and high commitment.
The extensive record of relevant services provided by Dr. Jorge González includes his vital participation in operations linked to the return to the Homeland of the remains of the more than 2,000 combatants who fell in internationalist missions, the so-called Operation Tribute; having led the search and identification team for the fatal victims of the large fire that occurred at the Matanzas Supertank Base, in the summer of 2022, and the missions that he led as an expert in aviation or other disasters, in dozens of Latin American countries.
Beyond his commendable scientific and teaching work in the field of Forensic Medicine, Dr. Jorge González fulfilled with rigorous zeal the different responsibilities given to him throughout his almost 45 years of working life.
Hero of Labor of the Republic of Cuba and Honorary Doctor of the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, the endearing Popi was characterized by his pure modesty, transparency, honesty, affable treatment and absolute fidelity to his revolutionary principles.
He once told me that, if he had to choose again, he would not think twice to become a forensic doctor again, teach that specialty in a classroom, and literally break his head investigating a complicated case that they had to solve. forensic sciences.
With the physical departure, at the age of 73, of Dr. Jorge González Pérez, Cuban science and medicine gain a symbol. His imprint will always live among Cubans.
